January 28, 2016—Recorded at Surfaces 2016: Greg Mather, President of Crossville, and Kemp Harr discuss Crossville's product introductions with Oceanaire and Laminam as well as the firm's strategy and outlook for 2016. Listen to the interview for a hint at how Crossville might change under his new leadership.
January 27, 2016—Recorded at Surfaces 2016: Werener Schwerdt, Sales and Marketing Director for Schönox Worldwide; Karen Bellinger, VP of Business Development for Schönox USA; and Kemp Harr discuss the global marketshare growth of Schönox's self leveling system and Schönox's new DSP concrete topping product that Schönox is introducing to the U.S. this year. Listen to the interview to hear more about Schönox and their growth strategy for floor preparation products.
January 26, 2016—Recorded in the Engineered Floors/Dream Weaver's space at Surfaces 2016, James Lesslie, assistant to the chairman at Engineered Floors, and Kemp Harr discuss this years' Surfaces show, Engineered Floors' recently announced merger with J+J, and the new VariColor patent pending technology of solution dyed fibers. Listen to the interview to hear more about this new technology, the company's foray into the nylon market and its continued story of growth in North America.
January 22, 2016 (Recorded at Surfaces)—Mannington Mills' Ed Duncan, President, and Joe Amato, VP Product Design, discuss Mannington's centennial celebration and the new products that Mannington introduced at Surfaces 2016.
January 20, 2016—Joe Bondi, VP and General Manager of Armstrong's residential flooring business, and Kemp Harr discuss Armstrong's newest LVT production line and the Vivero product produced on this line in Lancaster, PA. Listen to the interview to hear more about Armstrong's progress as they move to separate the flooring business from the ceiling business and more about the durability story of this new made in the U.S. LVT which is being launched at Surfaces.
January 19, 2016 — Luc Blommaert and Olivier Decouttere, CEO and COO respectively of Mattex Internaional, and Kemp Harr discuss the strategy behind Mattex' investment in a recently completed $70 million carpet backing plant just outside of Dalton, Georgia. Listen to the interview to hear both of these gentlemen talk about where carpet is in growth curve and why it makes sense to build a new plant to service the U.S. carpet producers
January 18, 2015 — Piet Dossche, owner of US Floors, and Kemp Harr, discuss US Floors' expanded patent protection for Coretec and the firm's decision to use Unilin and Valinge as a licensing agent for this expanded intellectual property. Listen to the interview for more on this as well as Coretec's debut in Europe at this year's Domotex Germany trade expo.
January 11, 2016—Eric Demaree, President of Carpet One Floor & Home, and Kemp Harr discuss the challenges that floorcovering retailers are facing today and solutions that Carpet One is developing to address them. Listen to the interview to hear more about competition, shift in mix, shift in buying habits and diversity of supply.
January 8, 2016—Trey Thames, VP Residential Marketing with Shaw, and Kemp Harr discuss a few of Shaw Industries' core introductions for 2016 and the success they are seeing at their regional shows which kicked off this week. Listen to the interview for more details on Shaw's residential focus for the coming year.
January 6, 2016—Shannon Vogel, Social Media Director with Creating Your Space, and Kemp Harr discuss which social media programs are best for floorcovering retailers. Listen to the interview to hear more about Shannon's recommendation and in particular how effective Houzz is as a social media option.